A nursing home in northern China is becoming the center of intense controversy after posting a video said to be ‘entertainment for the elderly’, which has sparked public outrage for being inappropriate and disrespectful.
In the viral clip, a senior female staff member of the nursing home, dressed in a short skirt and knee-high stockings, performs provocative moves right in front of an elderly man, reportedly to ‘encourage him to take his medication’.
The incident took place at a nursing home in Anyang City, Henan Province. On September 24, the official social media account of this facility shared the video with the caption: “Our director is doing everything possible to encourage elderly citizens to take their medication.” In the video, the woman, dressed in an outfit reminiscent of a school uniform, wiggles and shakes her hips in front of the man who sits silently in a chair, while another staff member approaches to offer him medication.
Notably, this nursing home’s online profile describes itself as “a joyful place, run by a young director born after the 1990s, with a mission to bring happiness and energy to old age.” They confidently declare that “enhancing the quality of life in old age” is their guiding principle. However, the video reveals a form of ‘vitality’ that sends shivers down the spines of internet users.
Immediately after being posted, the video quickly went viral with hundreds of thousands of views and thousands of angry comments. One user sarcastically questioned: “Since when did sexy dancing become a healthcare activity for the elderly?” Not stopping there, the nursing home’s account directly responded: “Everything can relate to sexy dancing.” This brief response only poured gasoline on the fire, causing the wave of criticism to intensify.
Under public pressure, on September 25, the nursing home’s director spoke to Nanguo Metropolis Daily, admitting that the video was “inappropriate” and stating that the woman in the clip is a senior caregiver, not a professional dancer. He asserted that their intention was not to shock, but to “spread positive energy” and eliminate the stereotype that nursing homes are gloomy and boring places.
“We want to show that nursing homes can also be fun, and the elderly can be active. But now we realize that this way of expressing it has both pros and cons,” a staff member added.
Nevertheless, these explanations did little to quell the outrage. Public opinion argues that the nursing home crossed an ethical line, turning elderly care into cheap entertainment aimed at gaining views and promoting their name. One internet user expressed indignantly: “Are nursing homes now competing to the point of having to resort to such tricks? Innovation is good, but one must know where the limits are.” Another commenter was even more harsh: “This is not about encouraging medication; this is an insult to the dignity of the elderly!”
In response to the fierce backlash, the nursing home has removed over 100 related videos from their social media account. A representative from the Elderly Services Division of the Anyang Civil Affairs Bureau stated that authorities are investigating the matter and will announce the findings as soon as possible.
This incident occurs amidst China’s rapidly aging population. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, by the end of 2024, the country will have over 310 million people aged 60 and above, accounting for 22% of the total population. This means that the need for elderly care and respect is becoming one of the biggest challenges of modern society.
However, instead of demonstrating understanding and humanity in care, the situation in Henan reveals a sad slice of how some facilities are commercializing the image of the elderly, turning them into tools for entertainment, and even marketing.
A widely circulated comment encapsulated the feelings of millions: “Are they dancing to encourage medication or to force people to open their wallets? The elderly deserve to be cared for with respect, not with cheap performances.”
This incident is not just a story about a controversial video. It reflects a troubling reality: when ethics are traded for views, and respect is replaced by gimmicks, that society is aging not just in population, but also in spirit.